Company behind The Online Citzen website told to register under Broadcasting Act

The company behind the website The Online Citizen was told on Tuesday that it needed to register under the Broadcasting (Class Licence) of the Broadcasting Act, stated a press release by the Media Development Authority (MDA).

MDA said the website "engages in the propagation, promotion or discussion of political issues relating to Singapore".

It said that as the company, The Opinion Collaborative, is "susceptible to foreign influence through the receipt of foreign funding​", MDA will require it to undertake not to receive foreign funding.

"MDA’s registration requirement seeks to uphold the principle that politics must remain a matter for Singapore and Singaporeans alone," the statutory board​ said.

It added that as with other registered sites such as The Independent and Mothership.sg, the registration will not affect what The Online Citizen may publish on its website.